07/01/12 — JOAN F. ETHERINGTON

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JOAN F. ETHERINGTON

Dec. 3, 1928-June 28, 2012

Joan Fraley Etherington, 82, died Thursday, June 28, 2012, following a long illness.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m., today, July 1, 2012, at the First Presbyterian Church, led by the Rev. Drew Clark. A reception will follow in McChesney Hall for the family to receive friends. A private burial will be held at Willow Dale Cemetery.

Born on Dec. 3, 1928, Joan was the first of three children born to Eugene and Frances Fraley in Statesville. She grew up in this small, closely-knit town surrounded by family, friends, and cousins. She was active in school theater, debate and speech teams and graduated from Statesville High School in 1947 as salutatorian. She went on to Randolph Macon Woman's College where she majored in English and was selected on May Flower Courts. As a debutante, she was photographed for Life Magazine's October 1949 issue featuring the Terpsichorean Ball.

Joan met Dr. John Etherington in Statesville and they were married in 1950 after John began his Eye Ear Nose and Throat medical practice in Goldsboro. They enjoyed 56 years of a romantic marriage, traveling the world as often as possible and regaling their children with stories of New York theater, Greek fishing villages, Italian Bascilicas, Turkish mosques, and French art.

Joan was active in family, civic, and church activities throughout her life. She was a long-time member of the First Presbyterian Church including serving on the flower guild and leading Sunday School classes. She also supported her family and community interests by serving as a leader of both boy and girl scout troops, Goldsboro's Women's Medical Auxiliary and the Cotillion Club. She was an avid gardener, a member of the Garden Club and was also an accomplished artist.

Survivors are her son, John Etherington Jr. of Atlanta; two daughters, Frances Etherington Abbott of Asheville and Joan A. Etherington Lillich and husband, David Lillich, of Clifton, Va.; a sister, Prudence F. Strong, and husband, Alan F. Strong; a brother, C. Eugene Fraley, and wife, Charlotte, of Atlantic Beach; two granddaughters, Morgan Leigh Etherington of Atlanta, Ga., and Lindsay Alexander Lillich of Clifton, Va.; a large number of nieces, nephews and cousins.

Preceding her in death were her parents and her beloved husband, Dr. John Lawrence Etherington who died in 2006.

Memorials may be directed to First Presbyterian Church, for Scholarships, 1101 E. Ash St., Goldsboro, NC 27530.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seymourfuneral home.com.

(Pd)

Published in Obituaries on July 1, 2012 11:37 AM